Washington Capitals: 4 Reasons the Caps Should Hire Adam Oates as Head Coach

When the Washington Capitals hired Dale Hunter to replace Bruce Boudreau in November 2011, it was hoped the organization would get a long-term coach to led the team to the Stanley Cup.

However, a mere 14 playoff games later, in May, Hunter informed the team he would not return, and so, general manager George McPhee is searching for a coach again.

McPhee will have several options on the table, including, for example, coaching veteran Marc Crawford, Caps assistant Dean Evason, and former Caps playoff hero Ron Wilson.

One name that has been discussed in the Caps community as a potential option for the Caps is that of Adam Oates, ex-Cap and current New Jersey Devils assistant. With the Devils' season finally over, McPhee could approach Oates.

4. Power Play Proficiency

In his NHL career, Adam Oates was an 1000+ point player, who made his name through being an extremely skillful player, scintillating playmaker, and excellent special teams feature.

He has continued that into his coaching career.

Oates entered the NHL as a coach when he was hired as an assistant for Tampa Bay in October 2009. In his first season with the Bolts, Oates ran a power play that ended with the eighth best success rate (19.3 percent) in the NHL, despite the team not making the playoffs. Oates joined the New Jersey Devils as an assistant in June 2010, and this season led the power play of a traditionally defense-first team to a 17.2 percent success rate.

The Washington Capitals, who led the league in power play efficiency with 25.1 percent in 2009-10, have finished 16th and 18th in the league respectively over the past two seasons in the category, and badly need a coach who can get the extra-man unit working as it should with the players the Caps can provide.

1. Hunger to Win a Stanley Cup

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The Devils' run to the Stanley Cup finals this postseason marked the third time Adam Oates has seen his team go all the way to the finals and fall short.

In 1997-98, his second season with the Caps, Oates recorded 76 regular season points to help his team to the playoffs. Once there, he would post 17 points in 21 games, but watch as his team was swept in the finals by the Detroit Red Wings.

Oates would again reach the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2002-03, his penultimate season in the NHL, with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. They lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils.

This season, Oates came within two wins of the hallowed Cup, but was bested by the Los Angeles Kings.

Oates has come close to winning the Stanley Cup, but has never gone all the way. More than most coaches potentially on the Caps wish-list, Adam Oates wants to win.